Heat-coil.



No.. 817,160. PATENED 111111.10, 1906.

1. B. 000K. HEAT 0011,.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.14, 1903. RENEWED PEB. 6, 1905.

FRANK B. COOK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

HEAT-COIL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 10, 1906.

Application led November 14;, 1903. Renewed February 6, 1905. Serial No.244,318.

To @ZZ whom 'z'; may concern;

Be it known that I, FRANK B. COOK, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Heat-Coils, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, illustrating the same.

Wy invention relates to thermal protectors, or more particularly toheat-coils, for protecting electrical circuits and apparatus againstabnormal electric currents, my object being, -first, to provide anautomatic selfsoldering heat-coil in which the parts are immediatelyrestored to operative condition after operation, thus allowing theheat-coil to be operated again and again, and, second, to provide asimple, substantial, and efficient construction in such a device.

In older forms of heat-coils generally in use certain elements thereofare separated by the action of the heat generated in the coil. Theseheat-coils are not automatically put in condition for another operationafter the device has cooled. In more recent forms of heat-coils certainelements thereof have their relative position changed by the action ofthe heat generated in the coil and are then restored to their normalrelative position immediately after the device has operated. Suchheat-coils may be reset and operated. again and again.

In my present invention I have provided a heat-coil in which the heatgenerated therein causes one element thereof to move with respect toanother element thereof, the said elements remaining in this newrelative posi.- tion after the operation of the device, in whichposition they are secured by the cooling of the latter. This heat-coilmay be reset and operated again and again as many imes as desired.Unlike the other heatcoils above mentioned the elements of the device ofmy present invention are not entirely separated by the operation thereofnor are they required to return to their normal relative position. Theysimply move one on another and are then secured in their new relativeposition by the cooling of heat-susceptible material.

In this present invention I preferably employ a hollow heat-conductingmember in the form of a spool, a pin secured therein by heat-susceptiblematerial, and a heat-producing winding wound upon the said spool. The

heat generated in the said winding by an abnormally large currenttherein is conducted to the heat-susceptible material by the saidheat-conducting member, and when this heat is sufficient theheat-susceptible material becomes softened, and thereby allows the saidpin to move in the said hollow member. I also provide the said pin withmeans, preferably a toothed wheel, adapted to be operated bycircuit-controlling means, and thereby turn the said nin within thehollow member when the heat-susceptible material is softened, the saidpin being again secured wi thin the hollow member after the operation ofthe device by the heat-susceptible material becoming cool.

I will more particularly describe my invention by reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of theheat-coil of the invention. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the heat-coilof the invention, showing the toothed wheel in front of the body of theheat-coil. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the heat-coil, taken online A B of Figs. l and 2. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the heat-coilin connection with its supporting and operating springs, and Fig. 5 is atop view of Fig. A.

Like characters refer to like parts in the several figures.

The heat-producing winding e is wound upon a hollow cylindricalheat-conducting element c between two annular projections c c thereon,which are preferably a part of c. :insulating-washers g g are placedupon the respective ends of c to carry a metal shell a,

which incloses the winding e. The ends of the shell av are turned over,as at a a', to 'firmly clamp the washers g g therein. One end of windinge is conductively secured to one annular projection c', and the otherend e eX- tends through a hole a2 in the casing a and is conductivelysecured to the latter. A pin f is inserted into the hollow cylindricalelement c and is normally secured therein by heat-susceptible materiald. A wheel t, provided with teeth b2 therearound, and preferably cutaway, as shown at ZJ', is rigidly secured to one end of pin 7 against ashoulder jt thereon.

In Figs. et and 5, m is a suitable insulatingbase, which carries springmembers c and 7L and ground member Z. Springs 7C and 7L are conductivelyconnected with line conductors t and u, respectively, and member Z ispreferably conductively connected with a groundconductor o. Spring 7s isformed into a IOC IIO

thimble at its free end, in which the casing a of the heat-coil isinserted, the thimble being split at 7i" to enable it to rmly grasp thecasing (L to hold the heat-coil from turning. Spring 7c is provided witha lip 7a2, used as a stop for the casing a. Spring z/ is preferably bentas shown and is provided with a hole z`l therein, in which a tooth b2 ofwheel Z) is engaged, as at p, Fig. 5, when the device is set tooperative position. Spring i is preferably a part of spring t and isadapted to bear on wheel Z) between two teeth thereon when the apparatusis set. Springs 7ir and i both tend to turn the wheel in the samedirection-that is, counter-clockwise in F The ground-strip Z forms astop for spring zl when the latter is released by wheel I) and takes theposition 7L. (Shown in dot-ted lines in Fig. 4.)

The circuit through the device is from conductor t, through spring 71:,casing a, winding e, spoolA cC, heat-susceptible material d, pin f,wheel I), and springs 7L and i to conductor a.

hen anabnormally large current traverses the winding e of the heatcoilfor a short length of time, it heats the winding, due to the resistancethereof, and the heat thus genera-ted is conducted by the metal core cto the heat-susceptible material d. lVhen the heat is sufficient, theheat-susceptible material d is softened, thereby allowing the pin f toturn in the core c. Springs L and t now cause wheel band pin f attachedthereto to turn with respect to the core c. Then wheel has turnedsufficiently, spring 7L is released from the tooth b2 engaged therewithand takes the position shown at i, Fig. 4, spring 'i disengaging Wheel band taking the position shown at t, Fig. 4. Springs t and t are nowdisconnected from wheel Yb, and consequently the circuit through windinge is broken. Then the heat-susceptible material d cools and hardens, itagain secures pin f within core c, thus restoring the heat-coil tooperative condition. The position of wheel I) is immaterial, as springs7L and i may be engaged therewith in whatever position it is inrelatively to the body of the heat-coil, provided the pin f is insertedinto core c. Then spring r operates, it grounds itself against Contact lof ground-strip l, thus grounding the line conductor u and switching theobjectionable current therein to ground. The device may be reset byreengaging springs zy and i with wheel vb and then may be operated againin a manner similar to that just described. The operating and resettingof the device may be repeated as many times as desired.

lVhile I have described p'articular details of construction in thisinvention, I do not wish to limit same entirely to such details, as manymodifications in the construction may be made without departing from theprinciples involved.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a heat-coil, the combination of a hollow, heat-conducting element,heat-producing means, a conducting-pin inserted into the said element,fusible material securing the conducting-pin to the said element, andmeans whereby, when the fusible material is softened, the said pin isturned in the said element.

2. ln a heat-coil, the combination of a hollow, heat-conducting element,heat-producing means inclosing the said element, a conducting-pininserted into the said element, fusible material securing theconducting-pin to the said element, and means apart from the heat-coilwhereby, when the fusible inaterial is softened, the said pin is turnedin the said element.

3. In a heat-coil, the combination of a hellow, cylindrical, heatconducting core, a heat-producing element inclosing the said core, aconducting-pin inserted into the said core and secured thereto byfusible material, a conducting member secured to the said pin, and meansapart from the heat-coil by which the said pin is turned in the saidcore, when the fusible material is softened.

Ll. ln a heat-coil, the combination of a hollow, cylindrical core, aheat-producing coil wound around the said core, a conductingpin insertedinto the said core and secured thereto bya fusible material, awheelsecured to the said pin, and means apart from the heat-coil by which thesaid pin is turned in the said core, when the fusible material issoftened.

5. In a heat-coil, the combination of a hollow, cylindrical core, aheatproducing coil wound upon the said core, a conducting-pin insertedinto the said core and secured thereto by fusible material, a toothedwheel secured to the said pin, and means apart from the heat-coil bywhich the said pin is turned in the said core, when the fusible materialis softened.

6. In a heat-coil, the combination of a hollow cylindrical core providedwith annular projections thereon, one near each end, a heat-producingwinding wound around the said core between the said annular projections,an annular, insluating-washer for each end of the said core and placedthereon, a metal casing supported by the said washers and inclosing thelatter and the heat-producing winding, a conducting-pin inserted throughthe hollow core and secured thereto by fusible material, a toothed wheelsecured to the said pin, and means apart from the heat-coil by which thetoothed wheel and pin are rotated, relatively to the. said core, whenthe fusible material is softened, substantially as described.

7. In a heat-coil, the combination of a hol IOO IIO

low, cylindrical core, a` heat-producing winding wound around the saidcore, annular insulating-washers placed upon the said core, ay

metal casing supported by the said washers and inclosing the latter andthe heat-producing winding, a conducting-pin inserted through the hollowcore and secured thereto by fusible material, a toothed wheel secured tothe said pin, and means apart from the heat-coil by which the toothedwheel and pin are rotated, relatively to the said core, when the fusiblematerial is softened, substantially as described.

S. In a heatecoil, the combination of a hollow, cylindrical core,heat-producing means inclosing the said core,a pin inclosed by the saidcore and secured thereto by fusible material, a toothed wheel secured tothe said pin, and a spring adapted to engage the toothed wheel to turnsame and the pin, relatively to the said core, when the fusible materialis softened, substantially as described.

9. In a heat-coil, the combination of a hollow, cylindrical core, aheat-producing ele ment inclosing the said core, a pin inclosed by thesaid core and secured thereto by fusible material, a toothed wheelsecured to the said pin, and a spring adapted to engage the toothedwheel to turn same and the pin, relatively to the said core, when thefusible material is softened, and thereby release itself from thetoothed wheel, substantially as de scribed.

10. In a heatcoil, the combination of a hollow, cylindrical core, a heat-producing element inclosing the said core, a pin inclosed by the saidcore and secured thereto by fusible material, a toothed wheel secured tothe said pin, and springs adapted to engage the toothed wheel to turnsame and the pin, relatively to the said core, when the fusiblematerial'softens, and'thereby release themselves from vthetoothed'wheel, substantially as described.

11. In a heatecoil, the combination of a hollow, cylindrical core, aheat producing element inclosing the said core, insulatingwashersslipped on and secured to the said core, a casing supported by the saidwashers and inclosing the heat -producing element and the said washers,a pin inclosed by the said core and secured thereto by a fusiblematerial, a toothed wheel secured to the said pin, a suitable support towhich the said casing is secured, springs adapted to engage the toothedwheel to turn same and the pin, the said pin turning in the hollow core,when the fusible material is softened, and thereby release themselvesfrom the toothed wheel, substantially as described.

12. In a heat-coil, the combination of a hollow, cylindrical core, aheat -producing element inclosing the said core, insulatingwashers, onefor each end of, and secured to,

the said core, a casing supported by the said washers and inclosing theheat-producing element and the said washers, a pin inclosed by the saidcore and secured thereto by fusible material, a toothed wheel secured tothe said pin, a spring, one end of which is formed so as to'inclose, andgrasp, the said casing therein, a second spring provided with a holetherein and adapted to engage a tooth of the said wheel, and a thirdspring adapted to rest between two teeth of the said wheel, the saidsecond and third springs both tending` to turn the toothed wheel in thesame direction, and causing the toothed wheel and pin to rotate when thefusible material is softened, thereby releasing themselves from thetoothed wheel, substantially as described.

13. In a heat-coil, the combination of a hollow, cylindrical core, awinding wound around the said core, a kpin inserted into the hollow coreand secured thereto by fusible material, and means for rotating the pinwithin the hollow core, when the fusible material is softened.

14. In a heat-coil, the combination of a hollow, cylindrical,heat-conducting core, a heat-producing coil wound around the said core,insulating washers placed upon the said core, a conducting-casingsupported by the said washers and inclosing the said heatproducing coiland washers, the said core and casing being terminals for theheat-producing winding, a conducting-pin contained in the hollow coreand secured thereto by fusible material, a toothed wheel of conductingmaterial secured to the said pin, and means for causing the toothedwheel and pin to turn, relatively to the hollow core, when the fusiblematerial is softened.

15. In a heat-coil, the combination of a hollow, heat-conducting core, aheat-producing winding wound upon the said core, insu lating-washersplaced upon the said core, a conducting-casing supported by the saidwashers and inclosing the said winding and washers, the said core andcasing being terminals for the said winding, a conducting-pin containedin the hollow core and secured thereto by fusible material, a toothedwheel of conducting material secured to the said pin, a spring adaptedto engage the toothed wheel, and a suitable support for the said casing,the fusible material becoming softened by the heat conducted thereto bythe said core when an abnormally large current traverses the saidwinding, thus causing the said spring to turn the toothed wheel and pin,the pin turning within the core, and thereby become released from thetoothed wheel, the fusible material again becoming hardened, after thetoothed wheel has released the said spring therefrom, thereby againsecuring thefsaid pin to the hollow core, substantially as described.

16. ln a heat-coil, the combination of a hollow, heat-conducting core, aheat-produc- IOO IOR'

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ing winding inclosing the said core, a pin inclosed by the said core andsecured thereto by fusible material, and means for rotating the pinwithin the hollow core when the fusible material is heated and softened,the said pin being again secured to the said core when the fusiblematerial cools and hardens.

17. In a heat-coil, the combination of a toothed wheel, a pin securedthereto, a hollow core into which the pin is inserted, fusible materialsecuring the pin to the core, a heatproducing element inclosing thecore, and a spring adapted to engage a tooth of the toothed wheel, thesaid spring causing the wheel and pin to turn, and thereby becomingreleased from the said wheel, when the fusible material is heated andsoftened, the said pin being aga-in secured to the hollow core, by thefusible material cooling and hardening, after the toothed wheel hasreleased the spring therefrom.

1S. In a heat-coil of the character described, the combination of ahollow, cylindrical, heat-conducting core provided with annularprojections therearound, one near each end, a heat-producing windingwound around the said core between the said annular projections,insulating-washers for the said core, one for each end, and placedthereon, a casing of conducting material supported by the said washersand inclosing the said core and washers, the 'ends of the said windingbeing secured to the core and casing, respectively, a pin of conductingmaterial inserted into the hollow core, a fusible material securing` thesaid pin to the said core, a toothed wheel secured to one end of thesaid pin, the said wheel being of conducting material, a spring, one endof which is split and formed into a hollow cylinder for holding andgrasping the said casing, a second spring adapted to engage the toothedwheel at two places, at one place a tooth of the wheel engaging a holein the said spring and at the other place a portion of the springresting between two teeth of the wheel, both engagements of the saidsecond spring with the toothed wheel tending to turn the latter in thesame direction, a third spring, and a suitable support upon which thesaid springs are mounted, the fusible material being heated and softenedby the heat conducted thereto by the heat-conducting core when anabnormally large current traverses the heat-producing winding, thusallowing the second-mentioned spring to cause the toothed wheel and pinto turn, the pin turning within the hollow core, and thereby releaseitself from the toothed wheel and come in contact with thethird-mentioned spring, the action of this second-mentioned springbreaking the circuit of the said winding, at the toothed wheel, the saidpin being again secured within the hollow core, by the fusible materialbecoming cooled and hardened, substantially as described.

19. In a heat-coil, the combination of a hollow, heat-conductingelement, heat-producing means, a pin inserted into the said element,fusible material securing the pin to the said element, and meanswhereby, when the fusible material is softened, a relative turning isproduced between the pin and the said element.

20, The combination with a heat-coil comprising a toothed wheel and acasing adapted to inclose the inner portions of the heat-coil, of asupport formed into a thimble for holding and grasping the said casing,and a conducting member adapted to engage the toothed wheel, the saidsupport preventing the heat-coil from being turned by the saidconducting member, but allowing the heatcoil to be turned, or removed,by a greater force.

2 1. The combination with a heat-coil comprising a toothed wheel and acasing adapted to inclose the inner portions of the heat-coil, of aspring-support formed into a thimble for holding and grasping the saidcasing, and a spring adapted to engage the toothed wheel, the saidspring-support preventing the heatcoil from being turned by the saidspring, but allowing it to be turned within, or removed from, the saidspring-support by a greater force, the said spring becoming releasedfrom the toothed wheel when the heat-coil operates, substantially asdescribed.

22. In a cut-out for electric circuits, the combination ofheat-concentrating means, a rotary portion secured within theheat-concentrating means by heat-susceptible material, and means forturning the rotary portion when the heat-susceptible material softens.

23. In a cut-out for electric circuits, the combination ofheat-producing means and a conductive portion, for inclusion in thecircuit, one being secured within the other by heat-susceptiblematerial, and means for turning one with respect to the other when theheat-susceptible material is softened.

24. In apparatus of the class specified, the combination of aheat-concentrating device, a rotary detent secured within the saiddevice by heat-susceptible material, and circuitcontrollinor meansadapted to engage the said detent and tending to rotate same, theheatsusceptible material becoming softened nnder abnormal currentconditions and permitting `the said means to turn the detent and openthe circuit.

25. In apparatus of the class specified, the combination ofhe:it-concentrating means, a rotary detent provided with a plurality ofengaging devices and secured within the heatconcentrating means byheat-susceptible material, and circuit-controlling means arranged toengage one of the engagin T devices and adapted to turn the detentandaring the said engaging devices into engaging position, one

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after another, when the detent is released by the softening of theheat-susceptible material.

26. In apparatus of the class specilied, the combination ofheat-producing means, a rotary detent normally held against rotation byheat-susceptible material, and circuitcontrolling means adapted toproduce a relative turning between the heat-producting means and therotary detent, one within the other, when the heat-susceptible materialis softened.

27. In a device of the class specified, a coil el" wire for producingheat, a rotary detent normally held against rotation by heat-susceptiblematerial, and means adapted to pron duce a relative turning between thesaid coil and the rotary detent one within the other when theheat-susceptible material is softened.

28. In a device of the character described7 a conductive portion, a coilof wire wound upon the conductive portion, a rotary detent secured tothe conductive portion byheatsusceptible material andcircuit-controlling means adapted to produce a relative turning betweenthe detent and the said coil one within the other, under abnormalcurrent conditions.

29. In a device of the character described, a metal spool, aresistance-wire wound upon the said spool, a toothed wheel secured tothe said spool by heat-susceptible material, and circuit-controllingmeans adapted to engage the toothed wheel and to produce a relativeturning between the latter and the resistance-wire one within the other,upon an abnormally large current inthe device, the operation of thelatter bringing the teeth of the wheel successively into engagingposition for their engaging means.

30. In an eXcess-current-operable device, a conducting-spool, aresistance-wire wound upon the spool, a rotary detent secured to thesaid spool by heat-susceptible material, and means for engaging thedetent to produce a relative turning between the latter and the saidspool one turning within the other, to open the circuit through thedevice, upon an excess current in the latter.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 12th day ofNovember, A. D. 1903.

FRANK B. COOK.

